Can end



United States Patent US. Cl. 222143 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An end for a can unit having a neck which is adapted to receive a cap therein protruding upwardly from the double seam of the can end, and having a handle on another part of the end, wherein the handle is set into a recess or countersunk panel in the end so that there is sufficient space between the handle and the countersunk or recessed panel to accommodate a human hand, and wherein the top of the handle is parallel or flush with the cap situated on the neck, so that the cans can be stacked vertically, packaged more economically, and still retain their desirable pouring characteristics.

Background of the invention Field 0 the invention-The field of the invention is that of cans and can ends, particularly metal cans of the rectangular or oblong style, known in the can industry as F-style cans, and particularly cans having a fixed, stamped sheet metal handle, and a neck or spout thereon With a cover for sealing the neck. More particularly, the field is that of ends for cans, and cans incorporating such ends, wherein the cans may be stacked on top of each other without having a tendency to tilt, even though the tops and bottoms are not cong-ruently shaped or provided with interlocking surfaces.

Description of the prior art.-For many years, a standard type of can in the can industry has been the so-called F-style can, namely one which has two equal-length longer sides and two equal-length shorter sides, all of which sides are round corners. This can is sometimes referred to in the can industry as an oblong or oval type can even though strictly speaking it is of modified rectangular shape when viewed in plan.

These cans customarily come in pint, quart, two quart, one gallon, two gallon and ten quart capacities, and are used in vast numbers for motor oil, gasoline, anti-freeze and other automotive chemicals, insecticides, floor maintenance compositions, and many other products.

Most of these cans are equipped with screw type necks adapted to receive a metal cap, and also include stamped metal handle units which do not fold flush with the metal can, and which are spot welded or soldered to one part of the can end. Normally, cans with handles have the handle disposed centrally of the can end, or somewhat toward one side of the end, and, particularly in larger sizes, have the neck, nozzle, or spout disposed closely adjacent a corner or an end seam. The necks on these can ends are normally of a standard height, which is the minimum dimension consistent with pro viding both suflicient screw thread surface and affording reasonable economy, and the handle is of a greater height, since a certain clearance must be left thereunder to allow a human hand to grasp the can. As a result, the top of the handle and the top surface of the cap covering the neck are different heights, and such a can end is not suitable for having another can stacked on top thereof in a stable manner. Particularly, in the case of full cans, this construction presents an economic drawback because of the inherent restrictions it imposes on handling and shipping such containers.

3,441,180 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 A third type of can, which is stackable to a certain extent, is one in which a folding handle is used, and in which the spout is of a fold-down or telescoping plastic type, with the neck thereof adapted to be folded downwardly of the end and into a flush position when closed, and adapted to be pulled out to a position where the pouring spout extends well over the double seam .in its extended position. Cans such as these are quite expensive, since the plastic spouts themselves are very expensive, and the D-ring or folding handle construction is also costly and inefficient, since it requires a heavy wire D- ring, as well as two separate mounting ears which must be manipulated into position individually before welding or soldering them to the can end.

Thus, the prior art has not heretofore provided an Fstyle can having a fixed metal neck member of standard construction which is low, and yet flush with the top of a conventional handle, which can be readily stacked, and which can be made from substantially standard parts without increasing the cost or changing established manufacturing procedures.

Summary of the invention In View of the shortcomings of the prior art cans and can ends, it is an object of the invention to provide a can end in which a standard height handle is provided and which fiits into a recessed panel in the end, so that the top of the handle is flush or parallel with a cap placed on top of a standard neck in a fully closed position.

Another object is to provide such a can end which can be made with a minimum of design and production alterations with respect to existing can ends and machinery.

The present invention achieves its objects, and other objects and advantages inherent therein, by providing a can end member which comprises an end panel portion, means on the outer edges thereof for seaming to the edges of a can body, a neck or spout member located in the principal panel portion, a cap for the neck, an inwardly recessed or countersunk .panel on another portion of an end, and a rigid handle member fixedly attached to the recessed panel portion, and in which the handle is recessed to a depth such that the top of the handle and the top surface of the cap covering the neck are the same distance above the principal portion of the end panel.

The manner in which these objects and advantages are achieved will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with a description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and as shown in the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can end, made according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the can end of FIG. 1 taken along lines 2-2 thereof.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a can end showing a different embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments Before describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail, it will be understood that any words denoting direction or orientation in the specification or in the claims are not intended to limit the claims hereof, or the concept of the invention, but only to refer to the positions of the elements of the invention in the orientation shown in the drawings, and normally refer to the orientation of a can in its normal position of use.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 generally show a can end which includes a principal end panel portion 12, outer peripheral edge means in the form of a curl 14 for facilitating seaming of the end 10 onto a can body, a shallow, ring-shaped recess 16, and a neck member 18, including sealing surfaces 20 on the top thereof. The neck 18 includes fastening means in the form of threads 22 adapted to receive a cap 24 having complementary thread means 26 thereon for engaging the threads 22 on the neck 18, The shallow, ringshaped recessed panel 16 terminates on the inner edges thereof in an upwardly directed flange 28 which engages the lower edge portions 30 of the neck 18, the flange 18 and the lower edge portions 3% of the neck 18 normally being soldered to each other in liquid-tight relation.

In addition, the end 10 includes stamped or drawn walls 32 extending downwardly and inwardly of the can end and terminating in a flat, recessed panel portion 34 which extends substantially below the bottom surfaces of the shallow recess 16. A handle member 36 comprising lower feet 38, leg members 40, and a top member 42 connecting said legs to each other is fixedly attached to the recessed panel 34, as by soldering or spot welding, or other methods which are conventional and well known in the can industry.

The curl portions of the end 14 may include a synthetic resinous compound lining material 44 on the inner surfaces thereof for providing a tight seal between the curl 14 and the flange of a can body to which an end is attached.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a curled edge 46 may be provided for each side of the handle member to render gripping thereof by a user safer and more comfortable. As will be noted by reference to the drawings, it is essential that the top member 42 of the handle 36 and the top surface 20 of the neck 18, or the top surface of the cap 24 placed thereover be substantially parallel or flush with each other, that is, that both extend an equal height above the principal end panel portion 12. In this manner, whether the cans are utilized empty or full, stacked by themselves, or are placed in cardboard or like boxes or cartons for shipping and handling, they do not exhibit the unstable stacking condition which presently characterizes F-style cans which are common throughout the industry. As pointed out above, the provision of the recessed panel 34 is necessary so that the space between this panel and the top 42 of the handle 36 is great enough so that a human hand may be inserted therebetween, and it is thus not necessary to obtain a stacking feature by increasing the height of the neck 18 to an extent which would be wasteful of material, or require new manufacturing techniques for cans which are mass produced on such a large scale.

According to the present invention, it is only necessary to alter the dies which are used to stamp out the end member, and proceed to manufacture these cans according to normally accepted methods, in order to provide a can having the advantages of better stackability, and more economical shipping, without adding to the cost thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the invention is shown in which the handle 36 has the top member 42 thereof disposed perpendicular to the long axis of the end member 10, but nonetheless located in a corresponding recessed panel 34. In all other respects, the construction of this end unit is the same as that described above.

Normally, since handles used on F-style cans are of somewhat the same minimum siZe in order to accommodate the width of a normal hand, the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferred in the smaller size can, for example, one gallon cans, since the upper surface 42 of the handle 36 would be too long to be placed perpendicular to the long axis of the end. However, in the case of twogallon and ten quart F-style cans, the width of the can end is easily suflicient to accommodate the recessed panel 34- and to allow placing a handle member 36 having suflicient width to be readily grasped therein.

Location of the neck 18 is a matter of choice, and exact placement thereof forms no part of the present invention; however, it is customary to place it near an edge of the can end, as shown, or in a corner of the end to facilitate pouring of the contents from the can.

I claim:

1. A can end comprising, in combination:

(a) a principal end panel portion,

(b) means on the outer peripheral edge of said end portion, said means being adapted to be seamed onto the edge portions of a can body,

(c) a neck member attached to a portion of said end panel portion and disposed near one peripheral edge thereof,

(d) means on said neck member for removably receiving a cap member thereon in liquid-tight relation,

(e) a cap member for said neck, said cap member being removably attached to said neck, the top of said cap being a given height, in a fully closed position, above said principal end panel portion of said end member,

(f) an inwardly recessed panel portion disposed in said end member and spaced from said neck member, which recessed panel is positioned substantially below the base of said neck member at which it is connected to said end panel portion,

(g) a handle member, including two legs and a top member connecting said legs, said handle member being fixedly attached to said recessed panel portion of said end member, the upper surface of said top member being generally fiat and being adapted to be grasped by a human hand, said upper surface of said handle top member being spaced upwardly above said inwardly recessed panel a distance such that said upper surface of said handle is the same height above said principal end portion as is the top of said cap member.

2. A can end member as defined in claim 1 in which said end member is of a generally rectangular shape having rounded corners connecting the sides thereof.

3. A can end member as defined in claim 2 in which the long axis of said handle member is disposed parallel to the long axis of said end member.

4. A can end member as defined in claim 2 in which the long axis of said handle member is disposed perpendicular to the long axis of said end member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1924 Milligan 222-143 10/1925 Howell 222143 US. Cl. X.R. 220-94 

